Vortex surfing is the technique used by Operation Migration to teach Whooping Crane chicks the migration route from their summer home in Wisconsin to their winter home in Florida. The chicks are taught to follow an ultralight aircraft and the chicks "surf" their way to Florida. The migration is currently in progress but grounded in LaSalle County, Illinois due to unfavorable winds. Operation Migration's web site will explain everything: http://operationmigration.org/... . For videos of the surfing see Operation Migration's Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Op... . The ultralight aircraft has a webcam for those who wish to "fly with the birds" in real time. Operation Migration's webcam is available at http://www.ustream.tv/migratin... . The webcam is also used to show the birds in their travel pen when wi-fi is available. The webcam is currently operating, give it a try. Operation Migration's Field Journal provides a daily status update plus it will mention fly over points for those who wish to get up at O-dark-thirty to see the birds. The address of the journal is http://operationmigration.org/... .

An exceptionally good example of vortex surfing is provided in the video listed below. In the first half of the video the Whooping Crane is flying below the vortex. In the second half of the video the crane decides to fly in the vortex. Whooping Crane Flight Demonstr...